12.7 The Story about Trying for a Schism in the Saṅgha
Saṅghabhedaparisakkanavatthu
Dhp 163
Burlingame: Devadatta Seeks to Cause a Schism in the Order
Compare: Vin Cv 7.3; Ud 5.8
Devadatta informed Elder Ānanda that he would henceforth observe the Observance Day apart from the original Saṅgha, thereby causing a schism in the Saṅgha, the Buddha explained how easy it was for the bad to do bad, and then spoke a verse.
Keywords: Discipline, Schism
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“Easily done are things not good,”
For on a certain day Devadatta went about to cause a schism in the Saṅgha, and seeing venerable Ānanda going his rounds for alms, informed him of his intention. When the elder heard what Devadatta said, he went to the Teacher and said this to the Fortunate One: “Venerable Sir, this very morning, taking bowl and robe, I entered Rājagaha for alms, and, venerable Sir, as I was going about Rājagaha for alms, Devadatta saw me. Seeing me, he drew near to where I was, and having drawn near to where I was, he said this to me: ‘From this day forth, friend Ānanda, I shall observe the Observance Day and carry on the business of the Saṅgha apart from the Fortunate One, apart from the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.’ Today, Fortunate One, Devadatta will rend the Saṅgha asunder, and will by himself observe the Observance Day and carry on the business of the Saṅgha.”
Thereupon the Teacher breathed forth the following exalted utterance: AJ: Ud 5.8.
Done with ease by the good is good,
good by the bad is done only with difficulty,
bad by the bad is done with ease,
bad by the Noble Ones is done only with difficulty.
Then said the Teacher: “Ānanda, what is not good for one, is easy to do; what is good for one, is hard to do.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:
163. Sukarāni asādhūni, attano ahitāni ca,
yaṁ ve hitañ-ca sādhuñ-ca taṁ ve paramadukkaraṁ.
Easily done are things not good,
unbeneficial for oneself,
but that which is beneficial
is exceedingly hard to do.
At the end of the teaching many reached the fruition of Stream-entry and so on.
